Air-venting valve for steam appliances



@et 12, i937. vv LEUTWQLER Er Al. l 2,095,505

AIR VENTING VALVE FOR STEAM APPLIANCES 'Filed May 27, 1955 ".1 ZZ sus Patented oci. 12, 193'?Y i `nois "Accusation 1935,s`ei-iai No. ,23,6352f 1 Vizolaihhf(creatinine i l This invention relates-totemperstheaegpn.

Sv venting devices operable 'byihlfexpasion andfcontaction of'a fluid-sealed therein.r

An object of the invention is to'nrovide an ai-1to1" g maticV device for venting air or other non-con# f densable gases from steam appliances, and for tion and having applied thereto Ataking the place of pet-cocks or other vent meansV on steam traps.

It is also the purpose of the invention to provide a device of this character-.operable by the expansion and contraction of the fluid therein which is suitable for use in connection with high temperature steam in that itA does not require the use of solder for sealing a flexible metal diaphragm.

A further purpose of the invention is to'reduce Vthe number of parts and simplify the construe tion of thermostatic devices used for venting air or controlling the flow of other iiuids according to the temperature; and to make a construction Vnot requiring the use of a sealing medium such as solder which is subject to softening or melting from the heat of high temperature steam.

The purposes `of the invention are accomplished by means of a construction as illustratedin `the drawing, wherein: Y Y

Figure 1 shows a steam trap in horizontal secthe improved venting device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the air vent.` Y

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the i disassembled elements of the construction.

Fig. 4 shows a` slightly modified construction which is used for attachment to the outside of a steam appliance.

The improved construction consists of few parts, the essentials of which, as shown in FigfZ, are a diap-hragm and two clampingmembers between whichthe diaphragm is located.` One of these clamping members is hollowed out to receive a fluidV which is` readily responsivel to materially expand orf contract at some predetermined temperature. v

, The other clamping memberrhas an internal protuberan'ce which is hollow and communicatesv The valve seat carrying part of the construction has openings to permit the iiow thereinto of air or other iiuid and out through the hollow shank, depending upon the position ofthe diaphragm valve. The device is intended for locaradiator .cr other steam appliance and to ventV v.tionupon the inside or` outside `cfa steam trap.

air-' orfother fluid outwardly'freir-1 v such appliance.` l

`As illustrated inthe drawing, the improved thermostatic device I is indicated in Figure `lasV on the inside of the casing 2 of a steam trap. The hollow threaded shank or nipple 3 of the thermostat passes through the wall of a discharge passageway 4. In this connection the function of the thermostat is to release air from the trap independently of the float or other water discharge controller which releases water from the trap through the conduit 5 leadingl to the pas-V sageway 4.

The construction of thermostatic device I is shown byFigures 2 and 3. Itv consists of aflexible metallic disc 6 which is clamped between the ground edges of annular flanges or shoulders 1 and 3 respectively formed on the inner faces of members 9 and Il) each of which exteriorly are of hexagonal or other prismatic form to facilitate the application of wrenches thereto.

The members Bland I0 should tightly fit together for the purpose of clamping the diaphragm around its periphery. This may be done-by means ofna pressed lit between the two members or as shown inthe drawing, the peripheral ,flange `I I of the member IEJ is internally threaded to engage the thread VI2 cut on the outside of flange 'I of member 9. The space I3 between diaphragm Ii` and the member 9 is completely closed by this member and the diaphragm and contains a more or less volatile iiuid, which is responsive to temperature changes, for flexing the diaphragm.V

Themember I0 has perforations I4 in the web I5 thereof to allow for the inflow of air or other fluid under control of the device to an outlet passageway I6. Aring-shaped valve seat I8 for the diaphragm 6 is formed on an annular protubery ance surrounding the flared end I'IV of the bore or passageway I6 which extends through the threaded shank 3 extending outwardly from the member'lll. Y i

In assembling the construction, the space I3 in member 9 is partly lled with a temperature responsive liquid and is covered with the diaphragm 6 which is then clamped and tightly sealed Vagainst theshoulder 1 by screwing the member I0 vonto themember 9.

VThe device is intended for use in a confined spaceon a steam appliance but toI communicate to the exterior of said steam appliance through the passageway I6. It may be applied by engaging. the threaded shank 3 with the wall, Figure forming outlet passageway 4.

Fig. 4 shows a rearrangement of the venting device for attachment to the outside of the steam appliance by means of the hollow threaded shank 20. This shank is integral with a cup-shaped casing 2| which is internally threaded at 22 to receive a plug 23. The plug has the central outlet aperture 24 which at its inner end is surrounded by a conical seat 25 for the diaphragm 26. The diaphragm is clamped around its periphery between the member 23 and the expansion fluid containing cup-shaped element 21 firmly tting the ange 28 of the plug 23 and shown as having threaded engagement 2S therewith.

The diaphragm 26 is engaged between the annular shoulders 32 and 3|. The flange 28 is provided with perforations 30. The air or gas which is vented by the device flows inwardly through the threaded boss 20 and through the perforations 3U to the outlet 24, except when the diaphragm 26 engages seat 25 due to the expansion of fluid within the space 33.

In the operation of the device as shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the diaphragm 6 is normally clear of seat l1 and thus allows the escape of air from the trap. The trap, therefore, does not fail to function in the intended manner because of the presence of a pocket of air therein. Upon a rising temperature, such as caused by the entrance of steam into the trap, the expansion of the fluid in chamber I3 causes the diaphragm to seat against the ring I1 and close the outlet passageway I6.

The construction is safe to use in connection with high temperature steam. No solder joints are required therein.

We claim:

An air release valve for steam appliances, comprising a threaded nipple having a bore, an enlarged head at one end of said nipple being externally prismatic and being counter-bored and threaded to receive a plug, a plug threaded into said counterbore and having a cavity for expansiblefluid, a diaphragm spanning and closing said cavity, said head having a shoulder coacting with said plug to clamp the peripheral margin of said diaphragm, and a projecting annular seat of substantially larger diameter than said nipple bore and spaced from said shoulder to cooperate with said diaphragm to thermostatically open and close said bore.

RICHARD W. LEUTWILER. WILLIAM EICHHOLZ. 

